Trying Something New.

Hi all, this is a new post this week to try something new for me, and I am not sure if even what I am trying to do will work!!!! Oh well, first time for everything.

There are a few blogs I like to follow and one is frompond.blogspot.com.au On this blog there is an Art Linky, and I am going to try this for the first time today. The brief is for a Primary School based Art Lesson. I am a High School Art Teacher, but my Year 7’s have just completed this activity a few weeks ago and it could easily be adapted for any age group. This is a lesson that comes from my Funky Fundamentals Unit of work. So below is a copy of what is in the Funky Fundamentals unit of work. ( Available on the Teachers Pay Teachers website)

OP ART

Op Art, or Optical Art, is an art movement that was popular in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is based around geometric shapes and the manipulation of them to create an illusion of movement. Famous artists that created artworks in this style include Aga, Albers, Anuskiewicz, Riley, Soto and Vasarely.

Bridget Riley, Blaze 1 1962

Victor Vasarely, Vega 1957

After this we look at a work by Victor Vasarely, pictured below.

Vega-Nor, Victor Vasarely 1969

Oil on canvas

Then we have a discussion based on the Super Six Strategy – Making Connections

Now the students answer these questions – just getting them used to looking critically at a piece of art.

Victor Vasarely—Art Criticism

In your Art Theory Books, use sentences to answer the following questions.

Create an artwork that uses as many different lines as possible in it.

Now it is their turn to make an Op Art work themselves. Below are the instructions and several student examples. This part you can make as easy or as difficult as you like. It could be linked to work being done on shapes, developing fine motor skills using a ruler, linked to colour theory, etc…

Op Art — making

Follow the steps below to create your own Op Art Illusion.

1. Divide your page into 4 sections.

2. In each section plan a design for your own Op Art work.

3. Choose at least three geometric shapes and draw them in pencil into one section of your planning page. Now draw lines that intersect those shapes. Your lines can be straight, wavy, angular. Vertical, horizontal or even radiating from one point.

4. Repeat this step three times, changing each design as you go.

5. Choose one design and redraw it onto a new piece of paper in your art books.

6. Now choose two different coloured pencils or textas and colour in your image like the ones below — each time the line intersects a new section, the colour should change. Once completed it should look like an op art checkerboard!

Hope you like the lesson, as you can see a lot of our students have added their own spin on it with texture rubbings and detailed decorative lines.

Like this:

I am a wife, mother, daughter, friend and High School Music Teacher.
I have an understanding husband, two grown up children and one cat.
I love the country life, especially as I can look out my back door and enjoy a beautiful view of cows ansd pasture. What is even better is that I enjoy the view without the cost! It's my neighbours' property.
I am a classically trained Opera singer, but very rarely sing in that style. I love singing and will gladly sing at the drop of a hat. I play the guitar, although strictly rhythm these days, no solos, and enjoy my Tuesday night African drumming class down the road - it is great therapy!
I love working with my students to help them see the best in themselves. I love my job and actually enjoy creating resources for my students.